Seventeen – “Boo”

The next day at school started out as pretty much the same old story. Amanda dressed in a sweater and jeans, brushed her hair, and got help from her mom with a little bit of makeup; couldn’t do much since she was unable to touch it up during the day.

Quickly locating the water trough, Annie set about to see about some supplies for themselves. Ruth decided to just wander around the area not looking for anything in particular. She walked by a young Indian with some skins to peddle.

What have you around your neck?” he asked. Ruth stopped, surprised at his good English. He looked to be about 20 years old and was very handsome.

Touching the necklace the Indian chief had given her for bravely and was wearing for luck, she replied, “This was given me by a friend.”

Exhausted, Ruth collapsed at the edge of the tracks. In the distance, she could hear the whistle of a steam locomotive and realized a train would be passing by soon. She dragged her weary body further from the railroad. Although the thought had crossed her mind that death would be sweet, she did not have a desire to commit suicide, accidently or intentionally.

She had developed a fascination for trains, but now the puffing huge machine appeared to be a monster, ready to destroy anything in its path. Ruth watched with hate as it roared past, but much to her amazement, it began to slow down and eventually stop a few yards down the track. Strange!

Fifty years, fifty years ago I had proposed to her and next month we would repeat our vows in the same church in which we had said “I do”, as the our minister lead us to union. I wanted to repeat all the steps that had lead to a life time with my soul mate and lover. Age brings wisdom but at other times it is not a blessing and, neither she nor I could hike Max Patch Bald, the North Carolina Mountain on which I had proposed, but I had an idea on how I could do it all over again.

It seems it sort of started innocently enough, I guess – I don’t know.

All it took was two ingredients: Hank and that old tree in his back yard. How the old tree entered in what happened, you could understand, considering all the weird stories that have been told through the years about it.

.....That helped verify the fact that a serious virus may be spreading through the area. Ruth became more worried. After all, she was a new mother and did not know what to do with a very sick baby. She mentioned that to Lolus on the way home....

Fourteen – Like a Walk in the Park

Tuesday was no different than Monday. Sweatshirt, jeans, guide, classes, no one to talk to, no friends, no enemies, no expectations, no fun -- just a boring, uneventful day ending with the “wonderful” after-school reading program.

A young man wakes face down on concrete to find himself in a room with no doors or windows. Contusions and bruising on his head are painful reminders of the events that led him to where he was and as his memory returns, he realises he’s not the only one in trouble.